Portimao Holidays

Portimao Holidays – Never short of something to do

A holiday in Portimao is for those who want to do more than just lounge around on the beach all day. It is the second largest town in the Algarve, the biggest in the western region, and has everything you would expect a big city to offer – and more. Leave a few kilos of luggage space free because you will be mesmerised by the shops in the town centre’s pedestrianised streets and the retail park on the edge of town.

If you are sports minded, Portimao has a packed sporting programme throughout the year; international show jumping, kite surfing, windsurfing, Formula 1 speed boats, yachting, and the Superbike World Championship, held at the new Algarve Motor Park, which also hosts major motor events throughout the year.

Feel the sea breezes by going deep-sea fishing or dolphin watching, and get a flavour of the sea by following the aroma of grilling sardines to the end of the waterfront. You really must try them, as Portimao is the sardine capital of the Algarve, and there is even a section in the town museum dedicated to the tiny silver fish.

A delightful all-year-round excursion is a trip in a solar-powered boat up the river to the historic town of Silves. (www.alvorboattrips.com)

When to go to Portimao

There is always so much going on in Portimao that the best time to go is limited only to what makes a good holiday for you. To take full advantage of the wide range of cultural and sporting events you would be best to time your visit through Spring to Autumn, when the weather is perfect for open-air events. Formula 1 speed boat racing kicks of the sporting calendar in April. July and August can be too hot to sit out in the sun for too long, and you will also have to face longer queues and bigger crowds. If you love big street parties, Portimao’s Sardine Festival takes place in the second week in August, with lots of live music and spectacular fireworks. Carnival – also known as Mardi Gras – has no fixed date but takes place in February or March, and is a riot of costume and colour.

The weather in Portimao

Temperatures hit a high in July and August, which can be a steamy 30º during the fourteen hours of daylight, almost all of which will have bright blue skies. At night they will drop to around 18º. April, May, June, September and October see comfortable temperatures of between 20-25º. Even during the winter months, on most days you will need nothing more than a light sweater to feel comfortable. Rainfall is modest, only around two inches per year, most of it falling between October and March.

Getting the best deal in Portimao

Inevitably, to get the best flight deals to Portimao you need to look outside the main tourist dates; the school holidays, Easter and Christmas. But bear in mind that Portimao is a major commercial centre as well as an important holiday resort, and if you are looking for a long weekend in the sun you might find that hotels frequented by businessmen during the week offer very good weekend deals, when occupancy is low.

Check below for the best deals in Portimao, and keep an eye on our late deals offers.

Airport and transport need to know

Faro is the second most important airport in Portugal, and the only international airport in the Algarve, so it can get pretty busy, particularly during the summer. There are low-cost flights from most regional UK airports; with Ryanair being the most important single carrier. Jet2, easyJet, bmiBaby, Monarch and a number of other low-cost and charter companies offer flights from around the UK to Faro. The flight takes approximately three hours, and Portugal is in the same time-zone as the UK.

There are plenty of the main car hire companies represented at Faro airport, but most people tend to pre-book a car on-line. Transfer time to Portimao is about 1hr. 30mins, (63km) and while there are usually no shortage of metered taxis available which will charge around 67€ (£54) for the ride, it could be more economical to book a fixed-price taxi or shuttle bus on-line. Some shuttle companies also offer a shared service to people going to the same destination.

Comboios de Portugal (www.cp.pt) is the national train service, and Eva Transportes (www.eva-bus.com) is the regional bus company, both of which run services from Faro town to Portimao. You will need to get a bus or a taxi from the airport into town.

The best beaches in Portimao

Portimao’s most popular beach is Praia da Rocha, which has become a resort in its own right. This beautiful beach of golden sand is long and wide, so there is plenty of space for everyone, even at the height of the summer season. The wooden walkway that runs the length of the beach makes it particularly easy for pushchair-pushing families or wheelchair users. Sun beds and parasols can be hired for the day, and there are so many cafes, bars and restaurants that you don’t need to leave the beach at all during the day.

To the west of Praia da Rocha, Praia do Amado is sheltered by red and ochre coloured cliffs. You can approach it via a paved footpath and cycle route along the cliffs, though access to the beach is by fairly steep wooden steps down the cliff, which can be difficult for families with young children. The beach is popular with surfers, and has hosted quite a few international surf and body board competitions.

Praia dos Três Castelos is part of a long beach that includes Praia do Amado and Praia dos Careanos. What appears to be quite a small beach at first site is quite deceptive as it curves around cliffs and rocky outcrops. You can hire sun beds, and if you don’t want to eat at the two beach bars there is a plentiful supply of restaurants on nearby Avenida Tomás Cabreira.

Useful links

http://portugal-info.net/algarve/portimao.htm
www.mydestination.com/algarve